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Robert Coker

Robert Coker is a creative consultant to the themed entertainment industry, working as a show/concept writer and designer: www.cokerworld.com

He has written advertising and promotional copy for the themed entertainment industry and beyond; articles for both themed entertainment trade publications and general consumer media (including Smoke magazine, AOL.com and The Guardian); feature film screenplays; greeting cards; and more.

He is a frequent co-host on The Season Pass, the Internet’s leading themed entertainment industry podcast.

He also writes and publishes ThrillRide!, one of the internet’s earliest (and at one time, one of the most popular) amusement industry-focused websites. Because of ThrillRide’s international renown, Robert has been a featured industry expert on a number of television documentaries, including an appearance on Britain’s Postcards From America series, in which he rode the Coney Island Cyclone with Monica Lewinsky. (Yes, that Monica Lewinsky.)

In 2002, the first edition of his book Roller Coasters: A Thrill Seeker’s Guide to the Ultimate Scream Machines was published. It received “Five Star” customer ratings at both Amazon.com and BN.com and climbed to the number one slot on Amazon’s “Travel Books Best Sellers” list. There were three subsequent reprints, two with updated content, and all four editions sold out. (Some used booksellers have listed “like new” first-edition copies for sale at over $350.00.

I was able to attend the park’s May 30th media event with The Season Pass crew , a day in which the park formally unveiled their new Boardwalk attractions (fairly stunning in their own right) and Bud Hurlbut’s restored masterpiece.

As you have likely heard already, logs did not start flowing until late in the afternoon, and only with park staff on board. Herculean efforts were made to have it open to the media and the public, but it was not to be. (Though it did open the very next day, to instant acclaim.)

That said, on the outside, everything is gorgeous: the freshly scrubbed and painted rockwork; the new trees, some 200 of them, imported from China; the more natural-looking dark green troughs; and on and on.

Inside, it’s even better. Doug Barnes and I were escorted through the mountain for a peek at several new show scenes, with the new Garner Holt animatronics in full performance mode, and we were both awestruck. In more than one prior discussion with Raffi Kaprelyan, the park’s GM, he emphasized that there would be no drastic changes to the overall flavor and story, but there would be some new elements and surprises that they hoped would please the many fans of this beloved ride. Mission accomplished, definitively. (The bear? Wow. Wait until you see the bear.)

They’ve even reworked some of the nomenclature to make the overall story of Ghost Town itself more cohesive: it’s now the “Calico Logging Company” harvesting the timber on Timber Mountain.
To witness the level of craft – and expenditure – that has been lavished on a ride more than four decades old is deeply satisfying. As a fan, I am overjoyed that one of my favorite themed attractions is in the best shape it’s ever been. More importantly, this work is just the latest and most striking example of how this park is being treated by its new caretakers. As an industry professional, I hope that other parks follow their lead.

We’re told that a similar top-to-bottom restoration of the Calico Mine Ride isn’t far off, and I cannot wait to see the results of that effort.

(Seriously, that bear, it rocks, and speaking of carnivores: try the Southwest Burger at the Coasters restaurant. Damn, that is one good theme park burger!)